I am curious how many of the posters here swam in high school, college, etc. and how close to the top you got. Thus the following not terribly detailed poll.
Swam club starting in 8th grade, and swam in high school qualifying for state meets in Florida. Recruited by Division II schools, but opted out of swimming altogether when I attended Stanford where I would have been too slow to swim in the same practice.
Did take up water polo then recreationally and then played on Oxford water polo club which sounds much more impressive than it was. Left swimming until a brief return at 30 and then left again until returning a couple of years ago at age 36.
Count me as one of the admirers of those who didn't swim until adulthood. I know that by waiting until age 13 to join a club, I had to set ego aside and swim with the little kids for a year. It took some determination. I chose to swim in my youth due to my utter luck of coordination and athleticism on dry land.
Swam club starting in 8th grade, and swam in high school qualifying for state meets in Florida. Recruited by Division II schools, but opted out of swimming altogether when I attended Stanford where I would have been too slow to swim in the same practice.
Did take up water polo then recreationally and then played on Oxford water polo club which sounds much more impressive than it was. Left swimming until a brief return at 30 and then left again until returning a couple of years ago at age 36.
Count me as one of the admirers of those who didn't swim until adulthood. I know that by waiting until age 13 to join a club, I had to set ego aside and swim with the little kids for a year. It took some determination. I chose to swim in my youth due to my utter luck of coordination and athleticism on dry land.
